Explore the Ruins of The Sutro Baths
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Added by Danny McGee
At their completion in 1896, The Sutro Baths were opened to the public as the worlds largest indoor swimming pool. Shortly after closing in 1966, the building burned to the ground. Now, you are free to explore the ruins and tunnels that were left behind.
Whether you simply look down on the ruins from the parking lot above, or walk down the stairs and explore, you will be greeted with stunning views of the Baths, and the Pacific.
The highlight of any trip to the Sutro Baths is the cliffside tunnel. As you walk through, the corridor is filled with briny mist and the booming sounds of the sea. There are several spots where you can watch the waves collide on the rocks below through small apertures.
It is located near the tip of Lands End and there is plenty of free parking. The great thing about The Sutro Baths is that they can be viewed from the parking lot, which is helpful for disabled visitors or visitors with walkers. It is not your typical park as one of the numerous signs warn "People have been swept from the rocks and drowned" so be careful with small children. But don't worry, signs warn you of any dangerous areas.
It is a fantastic place to catch the sunset as it faces out towards the Pacific. When in San Francisco, this is surely a place you don't want to miss.
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Cool spot in Lands End
Cool spot at the beginning of the lands end hike. Not much to see but has interesting history
4.0
unique
Very unique setting and an iconic part of ocean beach. Not sure if its still going on, but they used to do free Shakespeare plays here at certain times of the year. Grab a warm coffee at the visitors center and enjoy a nice walk along the ruins.
5.0
Interesting history
Saw this on the way while we were doing the Land's End hike. I looked it up when I got home and learned about the indoor pool and the weird ways they would go down the slides. It's interesting to see, but theres not much more too it than that.
3.0
Work it into your Land's End hike
Like others have said, work this into your Land's End hike. Super cool history and great location. Definitely worth a stop in San Francisco.
5.0
Iconic San Francisco Spot
On a sunny San Francisco day, the Sutro Baths are a great stop especially to enjoy a sunset. If you time it right, you can hike there via Lands End, then hike back before it's too dark. If you don't have time to hike as well, there's parking right near the baths (parking lot and street parking). Once you've gotten your fill, I'd recommend heading to Park Chalet or Tee Off (clement btwn 32nd and 33rd) for a bite and a beer.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
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